Stoker



Patented Sept. 24, 1946 'STOKER I a Howard F. Lawrence, Philadelphia,

Pa., assignor,

by mesne assignments, to American Engineering Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 4, 1943, Serial No. 512,955

This invention relates to stokers and more particularly to stokers of the underfeed type.

In stoker mechanisms of the underfeed type fuel is fed along relatively deep troughs or retorts which. in'some instances, become progressively shallower from front to rear of the stoker. The fuel entering these retorts overflows to the tuyeres disposed at the sides thereof and through which the combustion air is supplied to the fuel bed. Feeding mechanisms underfeed the fuel along the retorts to extension grates or dump plates from which it is fed to aplace of disposal. In devices of this kind, it is highly important that the retorts be sealed against the admission of air; otherwise combustion would take place in the retorts and consequently serious damage may result to the walls thereof as well as to the fuel feeding mechanism.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a sectional retort construction which permits expansion and contraction of the various sections thereof and at the same time effectively seals the joints between the sections against the influx of air.

Another object is to provide a simple and economic sealing means between the sections of stoker retort side walls which effectivelyprevents the influx of air into the retorts.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof progrosses.

Of the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through one of the retorts of a stoker.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a pair of adjoining sections of a retort structure showing the sealing means disposed therebetween with parts broken away to show more clearly the arrange- 1 Claim. (01. 110-44) grate underfeed type is provided in the furnace, and comprises alternately disposed retorts 6 and tuyre rows 1. Fuel from hoppers 8 mounted exteriorly of the front wall 2 is fed to the retorts through an opening 9 provided in the front wall by any suitable power feeding mechanism indicated generally at H]. Pushers H mounted in the bottom of the retorts 6 feed the fuel therealong to extension grates l2 provided at the rear of the stoker which in turn feed the fuel to dump plates IS. The dump plates l3, in the present construction, are disposed beneath the lower end l5 of rear wall 3. The refuse from the stoker is fed through an opening 14 provided between dump plates l3 and the lower end l5 of wall 3 into an ash pocket H5. The refuse supported on dump plates l3 may be dumped from time to time by any suitable means such as the power means indicated generally at H which operates the dump plateslil through any suitable mechanism such as the link and lever mechanism shown generally at l8.

Each retort 6 of the stoker 5 comprises a pair of spaced longitudinally extending beams 20, each of which has supported thereon a series of sectional plates 2| upon which the tuyeres l are supported. These plates may be fastened by ment of the sealing means and the retort sections proper.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top view of a pair of abutting retort sections taken immediately following insertion of the sealing means between the sections.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the sealing means after it has been extended into operative position, and, t

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the structure of the sealing means.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral l indicates a furnace comprising front, rear and side walls 2, 3 and 4 respectively, only one of the side walls 4 being shown. A stoker 5 of the inclined bolts or by any other suitable means to the longitudinal extending beams 20 as shown in Fig. 2. Each plate 2 l, as shown more particularly in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, is of rectangular construction and comprises a vertical wall portion 22 having a smooth fuel abutting surface 23. The opposite side 24 of each plate 2| has extending therefrom a series of cooling ribs 25. The abutting edges 25, 26 of the sectional plates 2| are provided with vertical slots 28, 28 for receiving a sealing member 29. Sealing member 29 comprises a relatively long body portion 30 which is bent at the longitudinal center thereof in the formof a broadened V. To assemble the sealing members it is only necessary to insert them into the slots 28 as shown in Fig. 3. To effect a sealed joint the operator simply inserts a bar or other member in the opening 3| provided between the abutting sections 21 and into contact with the apex 32 of the member 29 and then strikes the bar or other member with a hammer or Imallet, thereby causing it to extend into the slots 28 as shown in Fig. 4, at which time the opposite edges of the member 29 engage the ends of the slots 28, thereby forming an effective seal.

-By this constructionan effective seal is maintained under all conditions of operation and consequently a minimum of air is permitted to enter 7 the retorts. This prevents burning of the fuel in the retorts and as a result damage to the parts is avoided. The sealing members 29 may be constructed of any suitable metal or non-metallic material, preferably of heat resistive, resilient material which will have the faculty of springing into position under impact as previously described.

While the present embodiment is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to limit it thereto since it may be embodied in other forms all coming within the scope of the claim which follows:

HOWARD F. LAWRENCE. 

